Spring-suspension for road-vehicles.



G. F'. VOIGHT. SPRING SUSPENSION FOR ROAD VEHICLES.

APPLICATION min in. 2. ms,

Patented Aug. 6, 19111 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 SPRING SUSPENSION 'FOR ROAD VEHICLES.

APPLICATION HLED mm. 2, 191a.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918'.

, proceeds,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. VOIGHT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

seams svsrnnsron FOR noim-vnmcnns.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

Application filed March 2, 1918. Serial No. 220,029.

the principal leaf spring of a road vehicle.

Another object is to provide a spring suspension which may be more flexible and more quickly responsive than is the principal leaf spring. I

'ith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view of the right-hand side of the rear end of an automobile portions of the automobile body being broken away) showing my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of my invention, showing'certain portions in section, and showing also a portion of the vehicles principal leaf spring. i

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the invention, showing portions in section.

Fig. 4 is a view of a portion of theinven' tion taken on line a-a, Fig. 2,portions being shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a view taken substantially on line b-b of Fig. 1 showing the connecting means between one end of the principal leaf spring and my auxiliary spring shock absorber, portions being-shown 1n section.

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of a portion of my invention, portions'bemg shown in section and other portions being broken away. showing also a portion of the PIIDCI- pal leaf spr ng.

form.

Fig. 7 is a verticalsectional view of a portion of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of thejinvention in a somewhat modified Fi 9 is a view of the invention taken approximately on line 0 n, Fig. 1, portions belng in section, showing also a portion of the principal leaf spring in section.

Fig. 10 shows a portion of the invention in a modified form, and a portion of the prlncipal leaf spring.

Similar numerals refer to similar pains throughoutthe several figures.

It is to be observed that the invention as illustrated in Fig. 1, isdrawn on a smaller scale than the subsequent figures,

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral 2 designates a road vehicle axle supported at one end by a wheel 3. At one end of said axle is a brake drum 4 rigidly supporting a spring hanger provided at its upper 01' free end with a transverse opening 6. 7 is the rear principal leaf spring of the vehicle and is disposed above the axle 2 and extends in a general line there with. The outer end of the spring 7 terminates adjacent the drum r. The spring? supports a frame 8, which supports the vehiole body 9. 10 10' are two flexible levers spaced at suitable distance apart and have their inner ends disposed one on each side of the principal spring 7 and are free to move relativethereto. The outer ends of the levers 10 1 0 are pivotally connected to' ether by means of rivets 14 14. I prefer to oin two edges of the said plates together by bands 15- 15, which I pass around the ends of the levers forming the apertures 12 12'. The bands 15 15' being integral with the plates 13 13. The inner or free ends of the levers 1O 10' are provided with trans' verse openings 16 16' through which extend pivot pins 17 17 supporting connecting plates 1818', which plates are provide adjacent their upper ends with apertures the springs into openings 'il 21 'the claims,

do this by extending open ngs 26 26 19 it). into which are hooked one end of coiled springs 2U 20'. The opposite ends of said coiled springsare suitably anchored to the frame s by suitable means. l. prefer to mounting a yoke H upon the frame as shown in Figs. 1 and t) of the drawings. and booking one end of each of provided for the purpose in the free ends of said yoke. l'pon the upper side of the levers 10 it) and extending in a general direction. therewith. are disposed a pair of auxiliary flexible levers 22 2'2. The inner ends of said auxiliary levers are secured, preferably rigidly. to the inner ends of the levers l0 10'. The outer or free ends of the auxiliary levers terminate a distance above the levers 1() l0, and are yieldingly held in. such position by the tension of the latter. I prefer to fasten the levers 10 1t) and theauxiliary levers 2'2 22 together at th ends aforesaid, by means of rivets 2 5 '23. However. in the modified form shown in Fig. 8, the lever i and the auxiliary lever 22 are formed out of a single piece of metal which is doubled back upon itself, thereby forming a transversely extending eye H. n this modified form I have confined a flexible supporting spring or lever between the levers l0 and 22 for the purpose sisting said last The outer or levers '22 22' mentioned levers. free ends of the 'auxiliary are providedwith transversely through which extends a pivot pin 27, which pin also extends through an opening QSextending through the upper end of a connecting link 2!). the '51 or opposite end of which connecting link being pivotally connected to one end of the principal leaf spring pivot pin 30. The arrangement of said link 29 and the pivot pins 27 and 30 being such that the principal spring T may be free to move a certain distance longitudinally of itself relative to the auxiliary levers 22 22'. Vith my invention as described in the foregoing and shown in the drawings, it is obviousthat the coiled springs 20 20 may yielding or resiliently support the inner ends of the flexible levers 10 10. and that the said levers 10 10 may yieldingly suppoit the auxiliary levers and that the. assenn bly of said levers and springs may viel lingly support one end of the principal leaf spring 7,

In Fig. 10 I have shown a modification of the invehtion in that I support the yoke 8 by mounting it upon the principal spring instead of mounting it upon the frame 8 as shown in the regular form.

NoTE.Throughnut the specification and when reference is made to the inner end or. ends or to the outer end or ends of either the levers 10 10 or the auxil iary levers 22, then" outer end or ends of strengthening and as- T by means of a r shall indicate the end or ends nearest the vehicle wheel, and inner end or ends shall indicalte the end or ends farthest from the wheel.

Having described my invention. I claim:

1. The combinatii n with the frame, principal hat spring and axle oi" a road vehicle, of a pair of spring leaf levers pivotally supported at their outer ends by the axle, t,he levers being disposed one on each side of the principal leaf spring and free to move relatively thereto, a more or less rigid conl'lQtlllOl'bbGUVQQIl,ille levers adjacent their outer ends, the inner ends of the levers terminating below an intern'iediate section of, the principal leaf spring, a coil spring connection between each of said ends and a sec lion ot' the vehicle vertically movable rela tively to the axle, the arrangements being such that said innercnds may move downwardly relatively to said section of the vehicle against the tension of the coil springs, an intermediatesection of each of the levers being bowed upwardly relatively to an ap proximately horizontal plane extending through the inner and the outer ends of the levers, and a connection between the levers interniediate their ends and one end of the principal leaf spring, the arrangements being such that if ,a proper load is applied to said end of the principal leaf spring the said intermediate section of the levers may move downwardly and in a direction toward said horizontal plane:

2. The combination with the frame. principal leaf spring and axle of a road vehicle, of a resiliently flexible leaf sprin lever oscillatorily pivoted at its outer em to the axle. a connection between the inner end of the lever and a support vertically movable relatively to the axle. the intermediate section of the lever being bowed upwardly relatively to a straight line drawn to extend through its ends. a connection between the lever and one end of the principal leaf spring, the arrangements being such that if sufficient weight is applied to said end of the principal leaf spring it will cause said u 'iwardly bowed section to move downwardly in a direction ofsaid line.

3. The combination with the frame, principal leaf spring and axle of a road vehicle, of a pair of resiliently flexible levers having substantially flat. upper and lower sides, the levers being spaced a distance apart and disposed one on each side of the principal leaf spring adjacent one end thereof, .the inner end a section of said spring intermediate its ends, a connection between the levers adjacent their outer ends, a pivotal connection between the outer endsof the levers and the axle. a'connection, between the inner ends of the levers and a support vertically movable relatively to the axle, the levers hav ing a sect on itermediate their ends bowed s of the levers terminating below i upwardly relatively to an approximately horizontal plane extending through said inner and outer ends of the levers, the arrangements being such that said upwardly bowed section may be moved downwardly against the tension of the levers in a direction of said lane thereby causing the'inner ends ofthe evers to move along said plane in a direction opposite to their outer ends, and a connection between the levers intermediate th'eir ends and one end of the principal leaf spring.

4. In a spring suspension for road ve-, hicles, an oscillatory lever pivoted at one end to a support, a relatively movable support for the other end, and an auxiliary lever disposed abovesaid first mentioned lever and having a section seating thereon. the inner ends of the levers being connected together, the outer end of the auxiliary lever being adapted to support one end of the vehicles principal leaf spring. I

5. The combination with te frame, princi al leaf spring and axle of aroad vehicle, ofanoscillatory lever pivotally supported at its outer end bythe axle, a relatively movable support for its inner end, an auxiliary lever, a connection between the levers adjacent their inner ends, the second mentioned lever extending in a general direction with the first mentioned lever and disposed thereon in such a manner that a section thereof intermediate its ends will support a section of the second mentioned lever intermediate its ends, and a connection between the outer end of the second mentioned lever and one end ofjthe principal leaf spring.

6. The combination with the frame, prin cifpal leaf spring and axle of a road vehicle, 0 a resiliently flexible lever pivotally supported at its outer end by the axle, a relatively vertically movable support for its inner end, the lever having a substantially upper fiat side and: a substantially lower flat side, a resiliently flexible auxiliary lever having ,a substantially upper fiat side and a substantially lower flat side, the auxiliary leverextending in a general direction with the first mentioned lever and having a section intermediate its ends in engagementwith the upper side of a section of the first mentioned lever, a connection between the levers adjacenttheir inner ends, and a connection between the outer end of the auxiliary lever and one end of the principal leaf spring.

7; The combination Withthe frame, princi )al leaf spring and axle of a road vehicle, at an oscillatory leaf spring lever having its outer end pivotally supported by the axle, an auxiliary leaf spring lever lying upon the upper fiat side of the first mentioned lever and extending in a general direct on therewith, theinner ends of the levers be ng disposed in close relation with each other, a connection between the inner ends of tll levers, a support for the inner ends of the levers vertically-n1ovablc relatively to the axle, the outer end of the auxiliary lever being bent upwardly and spaced apart from the oscillatory lever, and a connection between said outer end of the auxiliary lever and one end of the principal leaf spring, the arrangements being such that said outer end of the auxiliary lever may move downwardly and toward the oscillatory lever against the tension of said levers.

8. The combination with the frame, principal leaf spring and axle of a rod vehicle,

of an oscillatory leaf spring lever pivotally supported at its outer end by the axle, an auxiliary leafspring lever disposed above the oscillatory lever and extending in a general direction therewith and having a section intermediate its ends seating upon a l longitudinally registering section of the oscillatory lever, a connection between the inner ends of the levers, a connection between the inner ends of the levers and a support movable relatively to the axle, the outer end of the auxiliary lever being spaced upwardly from the oscillatory lever and normally maintained in such position by the tension of the levers, and a connection between the outer end of the auxiliary lever and one end of the principal leaf spring.

9. The combination with the frame, principal leafspring and axle of a road vehicle, of a pair of leaf spring levers disposed one above the other, a connection between the inner ends of the levers, corresponding portions of the levers intermediate their ends being in bearing engagement the one against the other thereby causing the. outer ends of the levers to be resiliently yieldingly ,maintained a distance apart by the tension of the levers, the outer end of the lowerlever being pivotally supported by the axle, the inner ends of the levers being supported by a sup )ort vertically movable relatively to the axle, and theouter end of the upper lever being adapted to support one end of the principal leaf spring.

10. A spring suspension for road vehicles,

comprising a'pair of resiliently flexible leafv spring levers laterally spaced a distance" apart and disposed one on each side of the vehicles principal leaf spring and free to move relatively thereto, the levers being pivotally attached to their outer ends tothe vehicle axle, a connection between one end of said principal leaf spring and the levers intermediate their ends, the inner ends of the levers projecting below an intermediate section of said principal leaf spring, and a connection bet-ween said inner ends of the levet sle vely to said axle.

A spling suspension for road 13 0 and a portion of the vehicle movable I 4 nayeeaec spring levers laterally spaced a distance a resiliently flexible leaf spring; leVBlvplV apart and d sposed 'one on eachside hi the otedat its outer end to the) axle, a connection vehiclefs p r nc p 1 leaf spring andfree, to between the inncr'end of the lever and'a sup- '5 move relatively t er'eto, the levers being pivport ,niov'able"relatively to the axle, and e otally' attached at theiri outer,.end to the resiliently yieldable connection between one vehicle axle, 'aniore or less rig'd connection end of the principal leaf spring and the betvveen the levers adjacent {their outer e'nds, lever in rmediat'e the ends thereof.

a connection'b'etvveen the levers intermediate 15;, The combination with the frame, prin- 10 their ends and one end of 'said' principal ci fpal leafi springand 'axle ota road. vehicle, leaf spring, the nner ends ofth'e levers. pro- 0 I a resiliently flexible lever pivoted at its je'cting belovv an ntermediate, section fofi the outer' end .to the axle, a connection between principal leaf spring, and a pair. of resilithe inner lend of the lever and a support ently extendtble coilsprings 'liavi ig ,each' a movable relatively to the axle, an auxiliary lower end at achedy to one of saidiniier ends spring supported by the lever intermediate 86 of the levers andl aving each an upper end its ends, and a pivotal coi'inectionbetween attached to a port-ion of the vehicle movable sa'id auxilia springand one end of said relatively to said axle, the'arrangementsbe principal lea spring.- I ing such that said inner ends of the levers 1d. The combination with the frame, rin- 2 may move downwardly; relatively to saic 1 cipal leaf spring and .axle of a road ve ce,, B

portionof the vehicleagainst the tension of of a ,pair of oscillatory levers ivoted= at said coil sp'rins. their outer ends to the axle.- theinner ends 12. TliOQOiiiEiIlfltiOii with the frame, prinof the levers being laterally spaced ,apart eigial leafspring and axle of a road vehicle, and disposed one on each side of said prin o a pair of resiliently flexible leaf spring cipal leaf spring, a resilient longitudinally 90 levers laterally spaced adistance apartand extendible coil spring connected to each of disposed one on each-side of said principal said inner ends and attached to the free ends leaf spring and free toniov'e relatively thereof a yoke having its intermediate section" to, the levers being pivoted atvt eir outer seating upon a portion of the vehicle subject 30 ends to the axle, a connection betweenfthe to rebound. and a resiliently yieldable conlevers adjacent their outer endsythe levers motion between said levers. intermediate i being adapted to. support one end of said their ends and one end of the principal leaf principal leaf, spring intermediate their spring. v ends, the inner s f he levers projecting 17. In a spring suspension for road ve- 35 below a section on said principal leaf spring hicles, aspring hanger rigidly secu'redto the intermediate its ends, and: a connectionv bevehicle axle and having an upwardly extendtvveen eacho f said inner ends of the levers ing end free. a, pair of oscillatory levers and ortioii of the vehicle movable re tively laterally spaced apart. one of said levers to 't e axle, the arra'ngem'ents'r being, such having its outer end disposed at one side of comprising a pair of resiliently'flexible leer iwal leaf spring and axle of abroad vehicle 40 that the intermediate middle sectio'irof each said upwardly extending end of the spring of'said levers may-be deflected downwardly hanger andpivotally attached tl iei'etp an from its normal position relatively to its its inner disposed at one side of the ends against the ten ion of the l erv vehicles pr ncipal leaf s'pringQthe other of 13. The combination with the frame, prinsaid levers having its outer end disposed at,

45 cipal leaf spring and axle of a road vehicle, the opposite Side of said upwardly ex'tend- 11,0;

of .a resiliently flexible leaf spring lever i'ng end of the springhangera-nd pivotally pivoted at its duter end to theaxle, the lettached thereto and t inner end ldisposed ver being disposed at oneside oi Silld'PllTF on the opposite side of said rinci al leaf ci'pal leaf spring and free to move relatively spring, a connecting plate extending across '50 thereto, the lever being adapted to support from oneof said levers to, the other lever one end of said principal leaf spring -1-nadjacent the outer ends of said levers, means tBI'lIIQdlfltGitS ends, the inner end of the lefor rigidly securing portions of said plate ver projecting -below said principal leaf .to the levers, the arrangements being such spring,,a resiliently lon"tndinally extend1- thatsaid outer ends of the levers may be 551 ble coil spring having its lower"end attached held apart at a definite distance by means to said inner end of the lever and its. upper ofsaid plate, a resilient connection between end attached to a; support movable rel'asaid inner endsof the levers and a, ortion tiively to said axle, the arrangements being of thevehicle subject to rebound, an a con "such that saidinner end of the levers may nection between said levers Lmtermediato;

. 60- 5m d wnwardl relatively to said support their ends and one end of said principal leaf against the tension of said coil spring an spring. a

that said inner en of the lever may be re- 18. In, a spring suspension for ve- ,siliently deflected upwardly relatively to its hicles, the comb-inat'ion'of apair of 98011181- .intermediate middle section. tory levers laterally spaceda distance apart,

iii a l t. The combination w'i lithe frame,prinwith a plate, and pins for-rigidly securing 1 80,

portions of said plate to portions of the levers intermediate their ends, the plate being adapted for holding said levers apart at said distance. 19. In a spring suspension for road vehicles, a pair of resiliently flexible levers laterally spaced apart and disposed one on each side of thevehicles principal leaf spring, the inner ends of the levers terminating below the body of the vehicle and adapted to be supported by a portion of the Vehicle subject to rebound, the outer ends of the levers being pivotally attached to the vehicle axle, the levers being adapted to support one end of said principal leaf spring.

20. In a spring suspension .for road vehicles, a pair of resiliently flexible leaf spring levers laterally spaced apart and disposed one on each side of the vehicles principal leaf spring, the inner ends of said levers terminating below the body of the vehicle and adapted to be resiliently connccted to a portion of the vehicle subject to rebound, the outer ends of the levers being 'wardly from the horizontal ivotally attached to the vehicle "axle,the evers being adapted to support one end of said principal leaf s ring.

21. The combination with the frame rillcipal leaf spring and axle of a road ve icle, of a, resilientl -flexible lever pivotall attached at its outer end to the axle, the inner end section of the lever being inclined downand terminating below the body of the vehicle, a connection between theinner end of the lever and a. support movable relatively to the axle, and a connection between the leverintermediate its ends and one end of the principal leaf,

spring, the arrangements being such that the downward movements of said'support will permit the said inner end of the lever to move downwardly along a line extending outwardly from the vertical.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereunto allixed my signature.

GEORGE F. VOIGHT. 

